-W.E.B Du Bois

The African American Studies Program offers Western Kentucky University an enlarged
cultural perspective and increased awareness of the African American experience. The
program fosters an understanding of African American culture by

Offering students an African American Studies Minor, which when viewed from the cross-disciplinary
perspective, the AFAM Minor provides a comprehensive and honest picture of the life
and institutions of American people of African ancestry, and of their role in the
development of the United States.

Sponsoring workshops, dialogues, and other activities throughout the academic year
that showcase the accomplishments of African Americans.

We want you!

Western Kentucky University is committed to having a culturally diverse campus community.
Our official documents contain and our actions reiterate that commitment. We hope
that you will join us at this great University. Plan a campus visit and speak with
our students, faculty, and staff. You will come to discover that this is an excellent
place for you to pursue your "higher education." We look forward to seeing you on
"the Hill!"

The African American Experience --

'Don't forget your roots; don't ever forget where you came from'.

Not forgetting our history is exactly the reason why we developed the African American
Studies Program. This Program flows from the belief that the story told regarding
African Americans is biased and must be re-examined from the standpoint of people
of African descent as being agents in the making and "telling" of their own stories
and history, and not as a marginalized or footnoted addendum to American and European
History.

The program examines seven basic subject areas: African American history, religion,
social organization, politics, economics, psychology, and creative production (which
consists of Black Art, Music, and Literature). Through an examination of these broad
areas, the student begins to understand and appreciate the rich cultural heritage
and traditions of the African American Experience.

GET READY FOR A FASCINATING JOURNEY!!

As a Program, we host discussions, performances, roundtables, a lecture series, seminars,
films, and other cultural enterprises here on "the Hill." So come join us as we explore
the rich history and culture of African Americans. Students in African American Studies
will retrace the steps of runaway slaves during a trip to the Underground Railroad
Museum in Ripley, OH and the Freedom Museum in Cincinnati, OH. Also, they will visit
Atlanta, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Memphis as part of the Civil Rights Tour.